The City of Danielsville began the process of moving forward with its nearly new council and staff at the March 12 regular business meeting, with the first order of business being to swear in new mayor Todd Higdon.

Higdon told the council and audience members that he promises to do his best to lead the city forward, with the diligence and guidance of the council.

“Danielsville has some good days coming,” Higdon said.

There is one seat left to fill on the council, however, which is the council seat vacated by Junne Temple in her bid for mayor.

The council took no action on the appointment March 12. A motion by council member Jamie Spurlin to table the appointment died for lack of a second; then a second motion by council member Michael Wideman to appoint Jerry Riley to the seat also died for lack of a second.

The council then agreed to advertise for candidates to fill the council seat term, which expires Dec. 31.

Higdon said he had had a second person contact him about filling the seat, but that person had to withdraw his name from consideration due to his work schedule.

“We just need to move forward with this issue,” Higdon said.

In other business, the council heard the first reading of an ordinance that will make property owners ultimately responsible for any unpaid water bills left by a tenant at a rental property. City attorney Dale Perry said that the ordinance would require the property owner to pay any delinquent water bills before the city restores service to a rental property.

The ordinance will likely be voted on at the April business meeting.

The council heard from Higdon that he and the staff have eliminated some city phone lines and an answering service to city hall, which will save the city $400 per month, or $4,800 per year. He stressed that the lines will not affect city hall or the city’s phone service to the fire department.

“Rest assured, we’re going to do our best to further cut costs,” Higdon said, and he commended city staff and department heads for their work.

In another matter, the council approved a written “contract for services” with the Danielsville Volunteer Fire Department, as requested by the city auditor. The city currently pays $21,000 in four payments for fire service to the department as an independent contractor. The city also provides phone lines and Internet service to the department, and all the water needed for firefighting and training purposes at no cost. The VFD, in return, agrees to provide fire service for the city, to submit a report each January on how city funds are spent, and to maintain liability insurance. Perry said the written contract simply provides the terms in writing that have previously been agreed upon by the council and fire department.

The council approved the distribution of LOST funds to the city and they also agreed to renew their $200,000 line of credit for emergencies with First Madison Bank, which includes a $250 annual renewal fee.

The council agreed to consolidate the city’s numerous bank accounts into two to three accounts, which will save the city money in service fees and make accounting simpler, according to city clerk Susan Payne.

The council agreed to advertise for a part-time police officer and heard from one applicant, Greg Pruitt, who said he has been in public service, including law enforcement, for 25 years.

The council also heard from Cedric Fortson, who is interested in renting the city’s medical office building on Hwy. 98 West for judicial alternative drug and alcohol treatment program services. The council plans to discuss Fortson’s proposal at their March 26 work session.

The council heard from insurance agent Ron Alford, of English and Alford, about options for city employees’ health insurance coverage. The city currently uses Athens Area Health Plan Select, which pays 100 percent of medical expenses, for the employee only, with no deductible. The council is expected to discuss the insurance options further at their work session.

Alford apologized for coming before the council with the insurance options at this point, when a renewal is due April 1, but said he had been asked by a former council member to wait until after a new mayor was elected.

The council approved the route for the Madison County Chamber of Commerce’s Ag Day parade, pending the approval of a permit from the state.

The council also agreed, on the mayor’s suggestion, to solicit bids for city attorney services, including a bid from current attorney Dale Perry. Former council member Temple, who was in the audience, asked if Higdon had read the city charter, stating that it called for the attorney’s contract to be renewed or changed in December of each year, but Perry stated the charter did not specify that. Temple said it must be in the personnel policy, but that the council “could do what it wants to” in the matter.

At the end of the meeting Temple asked to speak to those present, saying she wanted to clarify statements made about a camera surveillance system at the maintenance shop costing “$40,000 to spy on city employees.” Temple said the camera upgrade, which included the maintenance shop, had cost approximately $11,000, and that it was placed, not to spy on employees, but to monitor for theft. She said that maintenance employees are out working for the biggest portion of each day, and that since there is no inventory of parts, the camera system was installed to monitor for thefts, “not to keep up with employees.”

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